U.S. patent number 7,789,417 [Application Number 12/091,311] was granted by the patent office on 2010-09-07 for occupant restraining device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Takata Corporation. Invention is credited to Kimihiro Koshikawa, Hiromichi Yoshikawa.
United States Patent |
7,789,417 |
Yoshikawa , et al. |
September 7, 2010 |
Occupant restraining device
Abstract
An occupant restraining device that can maintain the internal
pressure of a bag at a high level is provided. In one form, a bag
has its left and right ends both provided with stationary sections
that are fixed to a seat pan. The stationary sections have
therebetween a gas chamber that is inflated as a result of gas
entering from an inflator. The bag is made into the form of a pouch
by stacking an upper panel and a lower panel one on top of the
other, which are to respectively define an upper half and a lower
half of an outer periphery surface of the bag in an inflated state,
and then bonding and sewing these panels together along the edges
thereof. Specifically, the bonding of these panels together along
the edges thereof involves the use of elastic adhesive having a
stretchability of 200% or more, for example, between 200% and
400%.
Inventors: |
Yoshikawa; Hiromichi (Tokyo,
JP), Koshikawa; Kimihiro (Tokyo, JP) |
Assignee: |
Takata Corporation (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
37967650 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/091,311 |
Filed: |
October 23, 2006 |
PCT
Filed: |
October 23, 2006 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/JP2006/321025 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
April 24, 2008 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2007/049538 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
May 03, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20090096198 A1 |
Apr 16, 2009 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 28, 2005 [JP] |
|
|
2005-314857 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/730.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R
21/207 (20130101); B60N 2/42718 (20130101); B60N
2/42763 (20130101); B60R 2021/23576 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60R
21/16 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;280/730.1,743.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
199 44 052 |
|
Mar 2000 |
|
DE |
|
1 479 570 |
|
Nov 2004 |
|
EP |
|
2 399 795 |
|
Sep 2004 |
|
GB |
|
52 5126 |
|
Jan 1977 |
|
JP |
|
10 217818 |
|
Aug 1998 |
|
JP |
|
2001 1854 |
|
Jan 2001 |
|
JP |
|
2003 72504 |
|
Mar 2003 |
|
JP |
|
2005 29102 |
|
Feb 2005 |
|
JP |
|
2005 67465 |
|
Mar 2005 |
|
JP |
|
2005-255148 |
|
Sep 2005 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
An International Search Report dated Jan. 9, 2007, from the
International Bureau in corresponding International (PCT)
Application No. PCT/JP2006/321025. cited by other.
|
Primary Examiner: Fleming; Faye M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitch, Even, Tabin &
Flannery
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An occupant restraining device comprising: a vehicle seat having
a seat pan for supporting a seat cushion thereon; an inflatable bag
secured to the seat pan under the seat cushion and having a chamber
into which gas is introduced, the bag being inflated as a result of
the gas introduced into the chamber so as to push the seat cushion
from below; and a gas generator that inflates the bag when a
vehicle is in an emergency situation, wherein the bag includes two
or more fabric panels disposed above the chamber and two or more
fabric panels disposed below the chamber when the bag is inflated
and connected to each other at least at edges thereof.
2. The occupant restraining device according to claim 1, wherein at
least a part of the connection is bonded using elastic adhesive
having a stretchability of 200% or more.
3. The occupant restraining device according to claim 2, wherein
the connection includes a combination of the bonding with the
adhesive and sewing of the bonded part.
4. The occupant restraining device according to claim 1, wherein a
weave direction of at least a portion of one of the panels is
biased with respect to a weave direction of at least a portion of
another one of the panels.
5. The occupant restraining device according to claim 1, wherein
weave directions of the vertically adjacent panels differ from one
another by 40.degree. to 50.degree..
6. An occupant restraining device comprising: an inflatable bag
having a chamber into which gas is introduced, the bag being
inflated as a result of the gas introduced into the chamber so as
to push a seat cushion from below; and a gas generator that
inflates the bag when a vehicle is in an emergency situation,
wherein the bag includes a plurality of panels that are stacked and
connected together to form the chamber between the panels, wherein
each of the panels is formed of a woven fabric, and wherein the
panels comprise two or more fabric panels disposed above the
chamber and two or more fabric panels disposed below the chamber
when gas is introduced therein to inflate the bag.
7. The occupant restraining device according to claim 6, wherein
weave directions of the vertically adjacent panels differ from one
another by 40.degree. to 50.degree..
8. An occupant restraint device for a vehicle, the occupant
restraint device comprising: an airbag having a chamber for being
inflated during emergency conditions; an upper wall of the airbag
including multiple fabric panel layers that are each of woven
fabric material; a lower wall of the airbag including multiple
fabric panel layers that are each of woven fabric material; and a
seam of sewn threads that extend through the multiple fabric panel
layers of both the upper and lower walls adjacent peripheral edges
thereof for connecting the walls to form the airbag chamber with
the multiple fabric panel layers of each wall minimizing leakage
therethrough and out from the airbag chamber during inflation
thereof without having adhesive between the upper and lower walls
for connecting the walls together.
9. The occupant restraint device of claim 8 including a gas
generator disposed in the chamber for supplying inflation gas into
the chamber.
10. The occupant restraint device of claim 9 including a retainer
disposed in the chamber to which the gas generator is mounted with
the retainer having at least one elongate fastener, and wherein the
lower wall has a through hole extending through the multiple panels
thereof through which the elongate fastener extends for securing
the gas generator to vehicle structure.
11. The occupant restraint device of claim 8 wherein the multiple
panel layers of the upper wall comprise two panel layers and the
multiple panel layers of the lower wall comprise two panel layers
so that the sewn seam connects four panel layers of woven fabric
material together at the peripheral edges of the walls.
12. The occupant restraint device of claim 8 in combination with a
seat of the vehicle having a seat cushion and a seat pan on which
the seat cushion is supported, and wherein the airbag is mounted on
the seat pan under a front portion of the seat cushion to push the
seat cushion front portion upwardly when the airbag is
inflated.
13. The occupant restraint device of claim 12 wherein the airbag
includes corner stationary sections fixed to the seat pan with the
seam including curved sections adjacent the corner stationary
sections of the airbag.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a U.S. national phase application filed under
35 U.S.C. .sctn.371 of International Application PCT/JP2006/321025,
filed on Oct. 23, 2006, designating the United States, which claims
priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-314857, filed on
Oct. 28, 2005, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in
their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an occupant restraining device for
restraining an occupant in a seat of a vehicle, such as an
automobile, during a collision, and particularly, to an occupant
restraining device that restrains an occupant's waist during a
frontal collision in order to prevent the occupant's body from
moving forward and downward.
BACKGROUND ART
As a system for restraining a vehicle occupant during a collision,
an occupant restraining device that prevents a so-called submarine
phenomenon is known. Specifically, a submarine phenomenon occurs
when an occupant wearing a seatbelt slips through a space below a
lap belt during a frontal collision. Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application Publication No. 10-217818 discloses an occupant
restraining device having an inflatable bag disposed between a seat
cushion and a seat pan. When a vehicle is involved in a collision,
the bag inflates and pushes the front portion of the seat cushion
upward.
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the occupant restraining
device of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
10-217818 as viewed in a front-back direction of a seat. At the
front portion of the seat, an airbag 44 is disposed between a
cushion frame (seat pan) 40 and a seat pad 42. The airbag 44
extends in a left-right width direction of the seat and can be
inflated by an inflator 46. The upper surface of the seat pad 42 is
covered with a trim cover 48 on which an occupant can be
seated.
When the inflator 46 is actuated in response to a collision of the
vehicle, the airbag 44 is inflated, causing the front portion of
the seat pad 42 to be pushed upward or to be thrust upward from
below. This increases the density, thereby preventing (including
suppressing) forward movement of the occupant's body.
Such an airbag 44 is typically formed by stacking two sheets of
woven fabric one on top of the other and sewing the two together
along the edges thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide an occupant
restraining device that can maintain the internal pressure of the
bag at a high level.
A second object of the present invention is to increase the
production efficiency of the bag.
A third object of the present invention is to reduce anisotropy in
the stretchability of the bag formed of woven fabric.
An occupant restraining device according to a first aspect includes
an inflatable bag capable of pushing a seat cushion from below; and
a gas generator that inflates the bag when a vehicle is in an
emergency situation. The bag includes a plurality of stacked panels
disposed above and below a chamber into which gas is
introduced.
An occupant restraining device according to a second aspect
includes an inflatable bag capable of pushing a seat cushion from
below; and a gas generator that inflates the bag when a vehicle is
in an emergency situation. The bag includes a plurality of panels
that are stacked and connected together so that a chamber into
which gas is introduced is formed between the panels. At least a
part of the connection is bonded using elastic adhesive having a
stretchability of 200% or more.
In the second aspect, the connection may include a combination of
the bonding with the adhesive and sewing of the bonded part.
An occupant restraining device according to a third aspect includes
an inflatable bag capable of pushing a seat cushion from below; and
a gas generator that inflates the bag when a vehicle is in an
emergency situation. The bag includes a plurality of panels that
are stacked and connected together so that a chamber into which gas
is introduced is formed between the panels. Each of the panels is
formed of a woven fabric, and a weave direction of at least a
portion of one of the panels is biased with respect to a weave
direction of at least a portion of another one of the panels.
In the third aspect, the bag may include a plurality of stacked
panels disposed above and below the chamber into which gas is
introduced.
In the third aspect, the panels may include two panels disposed
above the chamber and two panels disposed below the chamber. In
this case, the weave directions of the vertically adjacent panels
may differ from one another by 40.degree. to 50.degree..
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a non-inflated state of a bag
in an occupant restraining device according to an embodiment, which
is installed in a frame of a seat.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bag.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.
2.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.
2.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 1 and
shows the bag in an inflated state.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a bag according to another embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of an occupant restraining
device of related art as viewed in a front-back direction of a
seat.
FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of a bag according to
another embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of a bag according to
another embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of a bag according to
another embodiment.
FIG. 11 illustrates weave directions of panels constituting the bag
according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a plan view of a bag according to another
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As in the first aspect, the upper and lower panels are constituted
by a plurality of sheets of panels, whereby the stretchability can
be dispersedly distributed over the panels. Accordingly, this can
enhance the tolerance of the bag as well as maintaining the
internal pressure of the bag at a high level. In addition, this
multiple-panel-sheet configuration also allows for less leakage of
gas through the panels.
As in the second aspect, by bonding the panels together with
elastic adhesive having a stretchability of 200% or more, the
amount of gas leakage can be reduced. For example, even through the
adhesive may become ruptured and detached as the bag inflates,
application of the adhesive over a sufficiently large area can
allow the inflation to be completed just before the edges of the
panels. Thus, the bag can be formed by simply bonding the panels
together. The peel strength of the panels bonded together may be
set higher than or equivalent to a normal seam strength such that
the adhesive applied along the edges of the inflatable portion does
not become completely ruptured or detached at the time of
inflation. Thus, the bag body can be formed with only the adhesive.
In that case, since the bag can be formed by simply bonding the
panels together, the productivity thereof is significantly
increased.
By sewing the adhesive-bonded part, the strength of the bag can be
further increased.
According to the third aspect, a force imparted on the bag upon
inflation of the bag can be dispersed, thereby achieving
substantially uniform stretchability.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with
reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a
non-inflated state of a bag in an occupant restraining device
according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is
installed in a frame of a seat. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bag in
FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III
in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV
in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in
FIG. 1 and shows the bag in an inflated state.
A frame constituting a seat of a vehicle includes a base frame 1
and a back frame 4 rotatably connected with the base frame 1 by
means of a support shaft 2 and a reclining device (not shown). An
upper portion of the back frame 4 has a headrest 6 attached
thereto. The base frame 1 has left and right side frames 1a and 1b.
Front portions of these side frames 1a and 1b have a seat pan 8
bridged therebetween.
Although not shown in the drawings, the base frame 1 and the back
frame 4 respectively have mounted thereon a seat cushion and a seat
back made of, for example, urethane. The seat pan 8 is disposed
below a front portion of the seat cushion. In FIG. 1, reference
numeral 1d denotes springs that support the seat cushion.
An occupant restraining device 10 includes an inflatable bag 12
disposed above the seat pan 8 and capable of pushing the front
portion of the seat cushion from below, and an inflator (gas
generator) 13 for inflating the bag 12. The bag 12 extends in the
left-right direction (vehicle-width direction) of the seat pan 8.
Both ends of the bag 12 in the left-right direction are
respectively provided with stationary sections 12a and 12a fixed to
the seat pan 8. Each stationary section 12a is fixed to the seat
pan 8 with a bolt 14. The stationary sections 12a and 12a of the
bag 12 have therebetween a gas chamber 15 that is inflated as a
result of gas entering from the inflator 13.
In this embodiment, the bag 12 is made into the form of a pouch by
stacking an upper panel 16 and a lower panel 17 one on top of the
other, which are to respectively define an upper half and a lower
half of an outer periphery surface of the bag 12 in an inflated
state, and then bonding and sewing these panels together along the
edges thereof. Specifically, the bonding of these panels together
along the edges thereof involves the use of elastic adhesive 19
having a stretchability of 200% or more, for example, between 200%
and 400%. Reference numerals 20 to 22 denote seams defined by, for
example, threads used for sewing the panels 16 and 17 together. A
seam 20 extends circumferentially around the panels 16 and 17 so as
to surround the gas chamber 15.
As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, each of the panels 16 and
17 has a substantially hexagonal, horizontally-oblong shape in plan
view such that a pair of opposite edges thereof extends in the
left-right direction. Each panel 16, 17 has substantially
triangular protruding sections at both the left and right ends
thereof. These substantially triangular protruding sections define
the stationary sections 12a to be fixed to the seat pan 8. Near the
tip of each protruding section is provided a through-hole 12b for
the corresponding bolt 14. A central area of the lower panel 17 is
provided with stud-bolt through-holes 12c through which stud bolts
18a of a retainer 18 to be described below extend.
The panels 16 and 17 are sewn together along the seam 20 that
extends entirely along the periphery of an area between the
stationary sections 12a and 12a, whereby the gas chamber 15 is
formed between the stationary sections 12a and 12a. As shown in
FIG. 2, the seam 20 has a substantially oval shape that is
horizontally oblong.
In detail, the seam 20 has a pair of left-right-direction extending
segments (indicated with reference numeral 20L in FIG. 2) extending
in the left-right direction respectively along the pair of opposite
edges of each panel 16, 17, and a pair of substantially
circular-arc segments (not given reference numerals) connecting
first ends together and second ends together of the
left-right-direction extending segments. The pair of substantially
circular-arc segments extends in the form of a substantially
circular arc so as to be convex towards the respective left and
right ends of each panel 16, 17.
As shown in FIG. 4, a distance L from the edge of the panels 16 and
17 to each left-right-direction extending segment 20L of the seam
20 is set to 15 mm or more, and is preferably about, for example,
15 mm to 30 mm. In particular, the distance L is preferably set to
about 20 mm.
An adhesion width W of the elastic adhesive 19 is preferably about
7 to 15 mm. The seam 20 is preferably located within a range of
.+-.3 mm from the center of the elastic adhesive 19 in the width
direction thereof.
The peripheries of the aligned bolt through-holes 12b of the panels
16 and 17 are sewn together along corresponding seams 21. On the
other hand, the peripheries of the left-side stationary sections
12a and 12a of the respective panels 16 and 17 are sewn together
along a seam 22, and likewise, the peripheries of the right-side
stationary sections 12a and 12a of the respective panels 16 and 17
are sewn together along another seam 22. As shown in FIG. 2, each
of the seams 22 has its opposite ends merged with the seam 20 and
has its intermediate segment merged with the corresponding seam
21.
In this embodiment, the inflator 13 having the shape of a rod is
disposed within the bag 12. The inflator 13 extends longitudinally
in the vehicle-width direction. The inflator 13 has gas discharge
nozzles (not shown) on a periphery surface thereof, and radially
discharges gas through these gas discharge nozzles.
As shown in FIG. 5, the inflator 13 has the retainer 18 connected
thereto for fixing the inflator 13 to the seat pan 8. The retainer
18 has the stud bolts 18a projecting therefrom. The stud bolts 18a
extend through the stud-bolt through-holes 12c provided in the
lower face (the lower panel 17) of the bag 12 so as to protrude
outward from the bag 12. As shown in the drawing, each stud bolt
18a extends through a stud-bolt through hole (not given a reference
numeral) in the seat pan 8, and a nut 18b is fastened to the stud
bolt 18a at the underside (lower side) of the seat pan 8. Thus, the
retainer 18 and the inflator 13 are fixed together to the seat pan
8, and the central area of the bag 12 in the left-right direction
is securely held between the retainer 18 and the seat pan 8.
The bag 12 is folded so as to be laid flat on the upper surface of
the seat pan 8 and to have a small width in the front-back
direction. Specifically, the bag 12 may be folded after being
attached to the seat pan 8, or may be preliminarily folded. In the
latter case, the preliminarily folded bag 12 may be attached to the
seat pan 8 while retaining the shape thereof with a shape-retaining
member (not shown).
In this embodiment, the bag 12 is first laid flat, and an anterior
side and a posterior side of the bag 12 with respect to the central
area thereof in the front-back direction of the seat are folded
towards the center, thereby reducing the width of the bag 12 in the
front-back direction. However, the method of folding the bag 12 is
not limited to the above. Alternatively, the bag 12 may be folded
multiple times in a zigzag fashion (accordion-folded) or may be
folded in a rolled-up manner. As a further alternative, the bag 12
may be disposed flatly without being folded.
The occupant restraining device 10 operates in the following
manner.
When a frontal collision of a vehicle is detected, the inflator 13
discharges gas, whereby the bag 12 (gas chamber 15) is inflated
with the gas from the inflator 13. As a result, the front portion
of the seat cushion is pushed upward or thrust upward from below.
This increases the density, thereby inhibiting or suppressing
forward movement of an occupant's waist.
Because the stationary sections 12a and 12a at both ends of the bag
12 are fixed to the seat pan 8 with the bolts 14, forward
displacement of the bag 12 is prevented or suppressed even when a
forward load is applied from the occupant towards the inflated bag
12.
In the occupant restraining device 10, the panels 16 and 17 are
connected together by means of a combination of the elastic
adhesive 19 and the seam 20, thereby achieving secure connection
between the two panels. In addition, the elastic adhesive 19 allows
for a gas seal effect. Consequently, the internal pressure of the
inflated bag 12 is maintained at a high level for an extended
period of time.
Although the panels 16 and 17 are connected together by means of a
combination of the elastic adhesive 19 and the seams 20 to 22 in
this embodiment, the panels 16 and 17 may alternatively be
connected together with only the adhesive 19, as shown in FIG. 8,
if the adhesion of the adhesive 19 is sufficiently high to an
extent that the panels 16 and 17 can be prevented from becoming
detached from each other when the bag 12 is inflated. In that case,
the adhesive 19 may be such that it is completely prevented from
becoming detached at the time of inflation of the bag 12, or may be
such that the adhesive 19 becomes detached near the gas chamber 15
of the bag 12 but maintains its adhesion for the panels 16 and 17
along the outer periphery of the bag at the time of inflation.
Although the inflator 13 is disposed within the bag 12 in the above
embodiment, the inflator may alternatively be disposed externally
of the bag. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an example of a bag in a
case where an inflator is disposed externally of the bag.
A bag 12A in FIG. 6 has a hose-like duct 30 that extends from one
longitudinal (left-right direction) end thereof (i.e. that extends
from near one of the stationary sections 12a). A base end of the
duct 30 communicates with the gas chamber 15. A gas-supplying
member (such as a pipe) extending from the inflator is inserted
through the duct 30, and is connected to the duct 30 with a band
(not shown). Thus, the inflator disposed externally of the bag 12A
supplies gas into the gas chamber 15 through the gas-supplying
member and the duct 30.
The remaining elements of the bag 12A are substantially the same as
those of the bag 12 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. The reference numerals
in FIG. 6 that are the same as those in FIGS. 1 to 5 indicate the
same elements.
In the present invention, a plurality of panels may be provided at
each of upper and lower sides of the gas chamber as in a bag 12B
shown in FIG. 9 (two panels 16A and 16B and two panels 17A and 17B
are respectively provided at the upper and lower sides in FIG. 9).
This allows for reduced stretchability of the panels 16 and 17, and
thus enhances the tolerance of the bag. In addition, this
configuration can suppress leakage of gas through the panels. The
panels 16A to 17B may be of the same material or may be of
different materials (such as materials having different
stretchability).
Although FIG. 9 shows only one seam 20, a combination of the seam
20 and the elastic adhesive 19 may be applied as in a bag 12C shown
in FIG. 10.
In the above case where a plurality of panels is used, the sheets
of woven fabric constituting the panels may have their weave
directions biased with respect to one another.
FIG. 11 illustrates panels 16A to 16D of a bag according to such an
example and the seam. The weave directions of the panels 16A, 16B,
17B and 17A are biased with respect to one another by 45.degree..
By setting the weave directions at different angles in this manner,
a force imparted on the bag can be dispersed, whereby the
stretchability can be uniformized in all directions as much as
possible.
In this embodiment, since the extending direction of the seam 20 is
biased with respect to every one of the weave directions of the
panels, the thread at the seam portion is prevented from becoming
displaced.
In the above embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the longitudinal
ends of the bag 12 are fixed to the seat pan 8 with the bolts 14,
and an intermediate portion of the bag 12 in the longitudinal
direction thereof is fixed to the seat pan 8 by means of the
retainer 18 (the stud bolts 18a) disposed within the bag 12. In the
present invention, in such a case where a longitudinally
intermediate portion of a bag is fixed to a seat pan by means of a
fixing member, such as a retainer, the fixation of the longitudinal
ends of the bag to the seat pan may be omitted. FIG. 12 is a plan
view of a bag 12D having such a configuration.
The bag 12D in FIG. 12 has a configuration such that the stationary
sections 12a and 12a at the longitudinal ends of the bag 12 in the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 are removed. The inflatable gas
chamber 15 within the bag 12D extends over substantially the entire
length from one longitudinal end to the other end.
The remaining elements of the bag 12D are the same as those of the
bag 12 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. The reference
numerals in FIG. 12 that are the same as those in FIGS. 1 to 5
indicate the same elements.
The longitudinally intermediate portion of the bag 12D is fixed to
the seat pan 8 by means of the stud-bolt through-holes 12c and the
retainer 18 (the stud bolts 18a) disposed within the bag 12D. On
the other hand, the longitudinal ends of the bag 12D are not fixed
to the seat pan 8.
However, the attachment structure of the bag 12 to the seat pan is
not limited to that in each of the above embodiments. The bag may
be attached to the seat pan by means of other attachment
structures.
The above embodiments are only examples of the present invention,
and the present invention is thus not limited to the above
embodiments.
While the present invention has been described in detail with
reference to specific embodiments, it is obvious to those skilled
in the art that various modifications are permissible without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
* * * * *